This week on The Future of Housing, Alan Morrissey was joined by John Connolly, the homeowner of a self-build called Halka Lodge. This eco-friendly, Nordic-inspired home is located in the Burren and was featured on RTÉ’s Home of the Year in 2024.
Also joining the discussion was Ciarán Breen of Ciarán Breen Construction in Ennis. Together, they explored the topic of one-off homes and planning permissions.
The conversation focused particularly on rural one-off housing, current planning regulations, and the impact these policies have on local communities.
This feature, ‘The Future of Housing’ is funded by the News Reporting Scheme.
You can listen to the full interview below:

